Medical imaging equipment are tools to help doctors diagnose a patient’s condition. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerized tomography (CT) scanners have some overlaps, each has its own specialties. A preliminary diagnosis of a person’s medical illness will be necessary to identify which medical imaging equipment will be put to use. For CT scanners, its priority is to diagnose bone and muscle disorders.
Understanding the Value of CT scans
The World Health Organization (WHO) ranks musculoskeletal disorders as the second largest reason for disabilities globally. Since over 150 medical ailments affect the muscles, bones, and joints, it’s relatively common for patients to undergo a CT scan.
Thankfully, the high potential of needing a CT scan matches its accessibility for patients. CT scans provide fast and accurate solutions to detect different forms of damage after trauma, especially during emergencies. Additionally, CT scans cover bones, tissues, and blood vessels simultaneously to diagnose a patient’s medical condition accurately.
The practicality of getting a CT scan inherently has some advantages over MRI machines. For example, a CT scanner is significantly less sensitive to patient movement. Additionally, CT scans offer more space and operate without loud sounds, unlike MRI machines. This makes it easier for patients with claustrophobia to undergo a scan without needing any anesthetic or relaxant.
Experiencing CT Scans
A CT scan is a painless and non-invasive imaging procedure. It uses x-rays and an iodine-based contrast to produce detailed pictures of the body’s different components from bones, muscles, organs, and fat.
Although a CT scan similarly uses x-rays, it offers a more comprehensive view of the body in different angles than a typical x-ray scan. These shots are collated into “slices” that doctors can examine to pinpoint a patient’s medical condition. Instead of being imprinted on a film, the slices are interpreted through a computer to produce cross-sectional images. This allows doctors to see any muscle damage or bone abnormalities throughout the body.
Diagnosing Muscle and Bone Disorders
The detailed images taken of the musculoskeletal system can represent different disorders. The more common conditions it can detect are bone damage, muscle damage, tumors, internal bleeding, and the formation of blood clots.
Several key symptoms point to a patient’s need to get a CT scan. For bone damage, a person suffering from hearing loss, chronic ear infections, or recent bone fractures can warrant a CT bone scan. This can detect different conditions such as:
- Paget’s disease
- Bone infections
- Osteoporosis
- Osteopenia
- Bone Cancer
For muscle damage, the symptoms of muscle disorders can be varying degrees of muscle pain in different parts of the body. This will warrant a CT scan to detect potential conditions such as:
- Muscle sprains
- Myositis
- Cancer
- Tendinitis
Conclusion
Using specific medical imaging equipment is necessary to address the urgency of diagnosing progressive symptoms. Since a patient’s condition can worsen at a moment’s notice, it’s necessary to be frugal with their time in a medical facility. Besides choosing the appropriate medical imaging procedure, medical technicians also need to ensure that their equipment is in working order. CT scanners can receive wear and tear or experience hardware and software failure from numerous causes like any appliance. For this reason, a good healthcare facility must maintain its CT scanners to receive repairs or part replacements when necessary.
We can provide a quality service to ensure that your physicians receive accurate data for their diagnosis. Our imaging equipment technicians at DirectMed Parts are well-versed in handling different CT scanner models in the market. If you’re looking for medical imaging repairs or CT parts replacement for your CT scanner, contact us today.
